Given the wealth of new governments, cultures and religions I think more than ever earlier game starts make sense as game is already moving far away from "core" feudal Western European experience. Eurocentric ancient-medieval-modern paradigm isn't applicable in wider context and even if it was, it was clearly delineated by the 476 CE as the beginning of the "medieval" part. So now with East Asia in mind I would like to propose two new start dates:
527 - We get a look at early Germanic Kingdoms especially with Vandals making the map of North Africa quite different. Avar Khaganate is notable and at notable location. Beginning of Justinian's reign is also very interesting as players could follow his footsteps or do something else entirely. China is also interesting at the time since it's the time of Northern and Southern dynasties, and in 534 Northern part splits into Eastern Wei and Western Wei dynasties.
632 - Fine year to avoid the controversy with, you know the guy, but interesting in and out of itself with Byzantines, Sassanids, Caliphate triangle, Merovingian kings ruled by their Carolingian stewards, Slavs coming to the Balkans in force. And in China we have rise of Tang dynasty and rise of Taizong to power by quite the shortcut approach.
527 - We get a look at early Germanic Kingdoms especially with Vandals making the map of North Africa quite different. Avar Khaganate is notable and at notable location. Beginning of Justinian's reign is also very interesting as players could follow his footsteps or do something else entirely. China is also interesting at the time since it's the time of Northern and Southern dynasties, and in 534 Northern part splits into Eastern Wei and Western Wei dynasties.
632 - Fine year to avoid the controversy with, you know the guy, but interesting in and out of itself with Byzantines, Sassanids, Caliphate triangle, Merovingian kings ruled by their Carolingian stewards, Slavs coming to the Balkans in force. And in China we have rise of Tang dynasty and rise of Taizong to power by quite the shortcut approach.
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